Originally Posted by biggamefish1 (Post 2452585)

You can use an alternative payment method, like having the payment come out of your checking account without any fee.

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe (Post 2452635)

Absolutely not! I'm very selective on which payments come out of my accounts automatically. As in as few as humanly possible.

Many years ago, Mrs. EDJ had a membership at an exclusive women-only gym. She carried this membership into our courtship. When we were nearing nuptials and reviewing our finances together, we looked more closely at this gym. They had been out of business for a few years and were still auto-deducting the monthly fee. Phone calls, emails, visits to the location, nothing gained any relief. The only way to stop the auto-deduction was to close out the account (huge inconvenience) and re-set everything with all other payees, etc. That money was lost and never regained.

Huge hassle, and a long running avoidable expense.

Another time I joined a prominent well know and large health club. L.A. Fitness. When I went to cancel, I had to spend two hours on the phone speaking to three different people before I could make any headway in getting them to cancel my membership and the resultant monthly auto-deductions.

I will not easily allow another entity to have the ability to reach into my account and take out the money they feel they are owed.

They want to charge me non-nominal "convenience" or "transaction" fees, then they will get a hand-written check. Usually with something derogatory in the memo line. I like the idea of over paying by a wee bit.

Originally Posted by RoboVil (Post 2452704)

I am loathe to have a business access my financial accounts. That being said, what I have done is set up a secondary checking account (American Express) where I can easily make deposits via an app and give them access to this account and not access to my main checking account. Also, as an aside, US Bank has a no-fee credit card which gives you 5% back on utilities which more than covers most, but not all, fees.

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe (Post 2452576)

Digital banking was *supposed* to be faster, more secure, and less costly to banks and other financial institutions. Same with ATMs. Supposed to cut down on expensive tellers. Now we are getting charged for their cost-savings measures.

I find it annoying. So here's my remedy. I have a few vendors that do this to me. So I am happy to write them a check. Costs me a stamp. They can pay someone to receive, open, process, and deposit my mailed check. Then they can wait a few days for it to clear. These are all processes that cost them time, effort, and some money. Then they can take their "convenience fee" and shove it up their darkness.

Originally Posted by seecapecod (Post 2452712)

A convenience fee is charged from the credit card Bank to the vendor who passes the fee on to the consumer. It wouldn’t make any sense to punish the vendor. The fee cannot be added to the cost of the service/item or that is considered surcharging and illegal.

Originally Posted by Lovey2 (Post 2452723)

Yeah, I pay from my bank online too. However, what I noticed is they send a "paper check", as required by the VCDD, they said. No problem for me, now that I have learned to enter it for an earlier pay date so the "Paper check" reaches them on time. Only found out because I had a late fee once, which the VCDD gladly refunded. I don't know what their game is, but I'm OK with it now that I know. And yes, to whoever said they don't have much pulled from their checking account. Bad experience there too...with the newspaper of all things. They "decided" once to pull for the year instead of bi-annually. Again, not a $$ issue just more of a "who the hell authorized that" issue. I won't allow it anymore. They can wait for my check.

Originally Posted by VAtoFLA (Post 2452692)

It's not a fee for the service provider. When you are a business and you accept credit cards, you are subject to fees on the transactions that are not minimal. Those asking for service charges are essentially giving you the choice to avoid those fees by doing what you are doing while your other business relationships don't offer you that choice and just use the CC interchange fees as an additional cost of business and hit everyone for them whether they use them or not.

You get to choose and you do choose what is right for you, but suggesting they "shove it up their darkness" for providing you an extra option is a little harsh.

Originally Posted by Lisanp@aol.com (Post 2452753)

I pay my district bill online from MY bank's online bill pay system. The Villages receives the money within 5 days as a paper check as they do not accept electronic payment receipts.
Online banking IS easier, faster and more convenient - and FREE - I do not even pay for that stamp!

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe (Post 2452576)

Digital banking was *supposed* to be faster, more secure, and less costly to banks and other financial institutions. Same with ATMs. Supposed to cut down on expensive tellers. Now we are getting charged for their cost-savings measures.

I find it annoying. So here's my remedy. I have a few vendors that do this to me. So I am happy to write them a check. Costs me a stamp. They can pay someone to receive, open, process, and deposit my mailed check. Then they can wait a few days for it to clear. These are all processes that cost them time, effort, and some money. Then they can take their "convenience fee" and shove it up their darkness.

Originally Posted by dewilson58 (Post 2452488)

GOOGLE is your friend.................

"ICI FEE VILLAGE CENTER $7.99" appears to refer to a charge or fee associated with Village Center Utilities in The Villages, Florida. It is likely a convenience fee or a specific service charge, potentially for online or credit card payments, though the specific nature of the charge isn't detailed in the search results.
Village Center Utilities is a department of The Villages Community Development Districts and is located at 984 Old Mill Run, Lady Lake, FL 32162. They can be reached by phone at +1 352-750-0000. Payment options include online, credit card, auto-pay by bank draft, mail, drop box, or in-person at one of the District Customer Service Centers.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2452725)

My payments are made electronically, and they are processed within one day. No paper checks are sent.

Are you sure you are using the correct payee information on your bank's bill pay system? My bill pay system does not send a paper check, and I am pretty certain that the VCDD does not require a paper check, nor do they want a paper check. I use Truist Bank for bill pay.